DAVID Murdoch is determined to sweep away the heartbreak of two failed Olympic bids by leading Great Britain onto the podium in Sochi.

Murdoch was yesterday named skip of Team GB for next year’s winter Games – with Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow completing the five-man squad.

The 35-year-old from Lockerbie led Team GB’s two previous attempts in Turin in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010 but saw his rink finish fourth and then fifth despite being among the favourites.

Now Murdoch hopes to lead his all-Scottish contingent to GB’s first curling medal in the men’s competition in 90 years.

The rink will face competition in Russia from Olympic chanpions Canada, world champions Sweden, Norway and China.

And Murdoch said: “It’s a huge honour. Having been to two Olympic games previously, I know what it’s all about and how big it is compared to the World Championships.

“We won bronze at the Worlds earlier this year and that was really good for this team.

“It’s a strong event including pretty much all the Olympic teams. For us to top the round-robin stage and win a bronze was really encouraging.

“But I had a few heart-breakers at the last couple of Olympics, in 2006 when we finished fourth and in 2010 when we went in as world champions.

“That just inspires me to train harder and focus on trying to achieve that goal which is still there for me – I’m still hungry for that medal. With this team, I certainly think I can achieve it.”

Rhona Martin led GB’s women to Olympic gold in 2002. But a British men’s team has not stood on the podium since the sport was introduced at the Chamonix Winter Games in 1924 – when they were champions.

But Murdoch insists the wait for another medal does not add to the pressure and said: “We’ve seen the record but for us it’s about training hard and staying focused.”

With Sochi four months away the team turn their attention to the European Championships in Norway at the end of November.

Murdoch said: “We have things to work on and hopefully we can find that form we’ll need going into the Olympics.”